SEPTEMBER 2013 VOLUME 23 The Minnesota NUMBER 8 Atheist PZ Myers to Speak at September Minnesota Atheists Meeting PZ Myers will be our featured speaker at the Sep­ tember Minnesota Atheists meeting. Myers is an associate professor of biology at the University of Minnesota Morris. His research focuses on the evolutionary developmental biol­ ogy of zebrafish. He is an active critic of religion who makes no attempt to be courteous in his condemnation. Noting that Myers once “publicly desecrated a Communion wafer,” The New York Times wrote, “Myers is way out of the closet as an atheist—proudly, outrageously so.” Myers began the weblog Phryngula.org in 2002, which is now hosted by FreethoughtBlogs. com. In 2006, Nature ranked Pharyngula as the most popular blog by a scientist. Myers covers a wide variety of topics on Pharyngula, but the web­ log is primarily noted for its fierce opposition to Intelligent Design and creationism. At the September Minnesota Atheists meeting, Myers will talk about his newly released book The PZ Myers Happy Atheist, published by Pantheon. The Happy Atheist takes a humorous look at the absurdities of keeping the planets in their courses, deciding religious thought and addresses the very serious fates of nations, and spawning hurricanes and problems superstitious thinking can cause. Here’s a earthquakes, frets endlessly about the sex lives sample from the first chapter of the book: of his chosen people.... Lately he has become a devotee of football, and players and specta­ I’m an atheist swimming in a sea of super­ tors beg for his divine favor in helping to get a President’s Column 2 stition, surrounded by well­meaning, good ball from one side of the field to the other. His News and Notes 3 people with whom I share a culture and similar followers are offended at the thought that they Cryptogram 3 concerns, and there’s only one thing I can do. have distant relatives who are monkeys, but Book Review 4 I have to laugh. they feel ennobled by the myth that they were Billboard Response 5 Living in America at the beginning of the made from dirt.... Shelter Work 5 twenty­first century is like attending the circus I try to laugh, but I also feel the human Weekend of Fun 6 when the clowns are performing—it’s low suffering caused by these follies. But then, as Pride Festival 7 comedy, full of pratfalls and pies in the face Shakespeare knew, the best comedy has always Treasury Report 8 and silly costumes. It’s also hilarious. been born out of the truth of pain and has a Highway Cleanup 8 The people all around me seriously leavening of tragedy mixed in with it. Freethinking Families 8 believe most fervently in a god who briefly NIP Volunteers 8 became human and was tortured to death for The September Minnesota Atheists meeting Television Report 9 his trouble—and that this is the greatest story will be held in the meeting room of the Roseville Radio Report 10 ever told. The omnipotent Lord of the Cos­ Library, 2180 Hamline Avenue North, Roseville, on Upcoming Events 11 mos is a man­like entity who, in addition to September 15th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 2 THE MINNESOTA ATHEIST Eric Jayne, Minnesota Atheists President President's Column • Eric Jayne Why I’m an Atheist Activist Now that our second annual regional confer­ we’re a bunch of nihilistic hedonists. ence and Mr. Paul Aints game weekend Our society is encumbered is behind us, I’ve been able to take a deep by the whims and authority of a breath and remind myself why I volunteer religious majority. It is incredibly so much of my time and energy toward the discouraging that many of our elected law­ cause of atheism. I recognize that there are makers and popular media correspondents many self­identified atheists in the United invoke their God and their Bible to shape States who seem to be getting along just fine public policy in various domains like LGBT without actively supporting atheism. They equality, women’s reproductive health, take no interest in supporting atheist organi­ and embryonic stem cell research. Fortu­ zations and some even complain that atheist nately, we have a number of atheist­friendly that those who identified as “religious” went activism is an unfavorable endeavor on par organizations that work together to address down from 73 percent to 60 percent since with religious proselytizing. So then why do I the pernicious theocratic elements in our 2005. Moreover, the index found that self­ and others do it? Why do I make myself vul­ lawmaking institutions and ethnocentric identified atheists went up from one percent nerable by publicly proclaiming my atheism? narratives manufactured throughout the to five percent. Having more people shake Is atheism really worth supporting? To put it media. off their religious identity while increas­ more simply, why am I an atheist activist? Atheism paves a path with ing the number of self­identified atheists In addressing these questions, I rewards of clarity and genuine shifts power away from those with a narrow, was compelled to first look back to my spirituality. Unlike my experience as religious­based agenda. Without atheist childhood, when I was brought up in an a Christian, as an atheist I have been able activism this kind of progress would likely evangelical Christian home. It was a fine to accurately understand a lot about the not have happened as quickly. childhood overall, but I remember getting universe and life on earth. Following the Neither atheist nor atheism are unsatisfactory answers to questions about evidence and learning about mind­blowing four-letter words. These are perfectly God’s origin, power, and goodness. I remem­ scientific discoveries, which are awesomely fine words that nicely explain non­belief in ber the mental anguish I had in trying to spiritual, is something that I no longer need God or gods. Through positive and friendly make sense of Sunday school lessons teach­ to square with Bible teachings. I don’t go atheist activism, I want to help make these ing about the promise of eternal damnation out of my way to “proselytize” atheism, but words more accepted and understood so for having incorrect beliefs. I remember the I don’t hesitate to explain how atheism has that everyone who is without theism (i.e. terrified feeling of thinking about my adult helped launch a more authentic and honest a­theism) can feel as free to claim an atheist brother—fourteen years older than me—go­ worldview. identity as a Bible­believer claims a Chris­ ing to hell since he didn’t join the rest of our Atheists are social creatures tian identity. This is not only important for family at church. just like people in religious sects. individual comfort and pride but also for Experiencing this intellectual dishon­ I feel honored that I have the opportunity continued progress on the secular front on a esty and fear­based indoctrination was a to help continue and build on the fantastic larger level. good reason to leave the church and even the work of the Minnesota Atheists organiza­ I could spend more time listing the religion altogether, but is that reason enough tion, which provides an important outlet for reasons for my atheist activism, but I should to become an atheist activist? Maybe, but freethinkers to talk without restraint and to really get back to the rest of my godless just to be sure here are a few more reasons I socialize with other friendly freethinkers in a tasks. I am proud and honored to have the considered. variety of ways. opportunity to funnel my activism through Atheists are marginalized in Progress is being made. At least Minnesota Atheists. My colleagues on the society. This marginalization is indicated it seems that way. As I pointed out earlier, board, Meetup leaders, and many other not only by copious amounts of anecdotal atheists are marginalized in our society, but members in the organization have been evidence, but also through polls and compre­ it seems as though it’s less so today than wonderful friends, teachers, and motiva­ hensive research findings that include studies even a couple years ago. I could share my tors. After helping lead the efforts for two from the University of Minnesota and the own positive experience of coming out as an billboard campaigns, two regional confer­ University of British Columbia. The Min­ atheist at work. Or I could point to the sig­ ences, two atheist­themed baseball games, nesota Atheists’ brand of positive atheism nificant decrease in complaints and threats several community­based volunteer events, in action—with philanthropic community related to this year’s conference and baseball many debaptisms, and numerous book club outreach events and our self­promoting Mr. game compared to last year’s. But these are discussions, I am certain, now more than Paul Aints baseball game—helps to educate just anecdotes. As noted in George Kane’s ever, of why I am an atheist activist: Because others about our high regard for happiness article on the opposite page, the recent Glob­ it is important, fun, rewarding, and mark­ and well­being while dispelling rumors that al Index of Religiosity and Atheism shows edly successful. SEPTEMBER 2013 3 George Kane, Minnesota Atheists Director-at-Large News and Notes • George Kane Religiosity Declining in Worldwide Gallop Poll At the end of July, Gallop International the government bans churches that are released its Global Index of Religiosity centrally controlled outside of China.